Escaping from the attentions of the Bondsmagi Locke Lamora, the estwhile Thorn of Camorr and Jean Tannen have fled their home city. Taking ship they arrive in the city state of Tal Varrar where they are soon planning their most spectacular heist yet; they will take the luxurious gaming house, The Sinspire, for all of its countless riches.
No-one has ever taken even a single coin from the Sinspire that wasn't won on the tables or in the other games of chance on offer there.
But, as ever, the path of true crime rarely runs smooth and Locke and Jean soon find themselves co-opted into an attempt to bring the pirate fleet of the notorious Zamira Drakasha to justice. Fine work for thieves who don't know one end of galley from another.
And all the while the Bondsmagi are plotting their very necessary revenge against the one man who believes he has humiliated them and lived; Locke Lamora.
Rating: 5 Stars
After how gripping the first book was I was extremely worried that Red Seas Under Red Skies simply wouldn't live up to its predecessor. However I wasn't disappointed. Whilst this book is set two years after the events of the first, we glean sufficient information as to what Locke and Jean have done over this period of time. Typically they've moved from Camorr to Tal Verrar and are planning their biggest heist yet, something that is even more of a feat given that their numbers are down to two now.
Red Seas Under Red Skies opens with a gripping prologue; one where we see Locke and Jean cornered by two potential assassins, and where it appears that Jean's loyalties have changed somewhat. Eager to see what has changed Jean so much I found I had to keep on reading.
My one potential gripe with Red Seas is that at times, especially towards the end of the book, it felt like there were too many plots and subplots happening at the same time. We have the storyline with Requin, owner of the Sinspire and the plan to rob him blind. But we also have the Archon and the fact that poison is worming its way through Locke and Jean's veins, and then there's a huge pirate battle to contend with as well. At times I did admittedly find it hard to keep up with what was going on, but at the same time Scott Lynch manages to tie it all up beautifully.
What I really enjoyed however was the more independent storyline for Jean. I loved the relationship he develops with Ezri, and how Locke has become a big enough person to accept the two of them happily. Ezri and Jean's relationship did bring a tear to my eye, okay I lie it brought a whole flood of tears to both of my eyes, but I won't say anymore as I don't want to be responsible for any major spoilers.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely. This looks like a very promising series and I'm about to go buy the third installment now. You should read the series and do the same.
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